AMERICA AND E.E.C.

Press, Volume C, Issue 29711, 3 January 1962, Page 8

AMERICA AND E.E.C.

“Relationship Needed”

(N.Z.P.A.-Reuter —Copyright) WASHINGTON, Jan. 1

The United States Secretary of Commerce, Mr Luther Hodges, said yesterday that the United States should hai’e some kind of working relationship with the European Common Market.

In a pre-recorded television interview he also predicted that eventually there would be other regional trade compacts similar to the Common Market in Europe. The United States, he said, “would have to belong to one or more of them.”

At present, however, he said, “none of us proposes we join the Common Market, but we propose there should be some kind of working relationship with it in order to protect ourselves on some rather substantial items we ship abroad.” Mr Hodges also said the growth in the United States economy in 1961 was between 3 and 3J per cent. and added: “I would not be satisfied in 1962 with less than a 4 per cent, growth.” “I think that we must have a larger sphere of free trade if we are going to really have the growth we have been talking about,” he said. Mr Hodges said the most important item before Congress when it convened next month would be the more liberal recirporac Itariff-cut-ting authority President Kennedy was expected to request. “I think if the President shows his usual vigour and courage and can do a good job of explaining it to the country, that he will come near getting what he asks for,” he said.